Children’s charity in Wirral, Rampworx, opens BMX shop to develop extreme sports complex

Oct 19 2011 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

A CHILDREN’S charity in Wirral has opened a shop in the hope to develop an extreme sports complex.

Rampworx have opened a shop on Market Street in Hoylake to generate some cash which will go towards opening up a skate park with a range of activities for youngsters.

Rampworx development manager, Tony Berry said: “We met with the Ladies of Hoylake, police and others in the community to tell them about our plans, who we are and what we’re about.

“The shop is a social enterprise and it sells skateboards, in-line skates, BMX’s and scooters.

“We were paying £10,000 in rent for an office in Birkenhead, so we decided to set up a shop and use it as an office which costs £12,000 to rent. This way we can also sell items and then any extra revenue will pay for the skate park project.”

The charity has already run a skatepark in Aintree, since 1997.

Now they hope to set up a skate park on three acres of land in Bidston, which could be five years away from the drawing board.

The estimated cost is £8 million and it will create 35 jobs.

Tony added: “The development will have a skate park, climbing wall, street dancing, gaming, futsal (five-a-side football), in-house radio stations, multi-media workshops and businesses hubs for young entrepreneurs. It will be very unique to the UK.

“We have put the plan to tender and got some response back from architects nationwide. We have picked a local architect from Heswall. This will then get us to tender stage and a full planning application can be submitted to Wirral Council. It will also get us to grant application stage or a loan.

“Once approved it will allow us to apply for £2.5million from Charity Bank, depending on the criteria.

“We are very excited and positive, although we are trying to dampen that just in case it does not happen. But it will only work with the support of the community and all the agencies.

“We have the skate park in Aintree, do work in the community and have an on-line and in-house shop – through this we hope to raise the money along with any funding we may receive from CALM and sponsorship from an energy drinks company.”

The charity offers a pledge scheme to businesses who would like to get involved. To learn more call Rampworx on 638 9000.